Bosses lead the way for World Carfree Day!

Business leaders and heads of local authorities will set an example to their staff and the public by leaving their cars at home and taking public transport, walking or cycling to work to promote World Carfree Day.

More than 20 chief executives have accepted an invitation from Greater Wellington Regional Council's chief executive David Benham to allocate a day on which to leave their cars at home next week ahead of Carfree Day on Saturday, 22 September.

David Benham, who normally drives from his home in Eastbourne to his office in Wellington's Wakefield Street, will leave his car at home on Monday and take the harbour ferry to get to work.

Mr Benham, who will now seek to take public transport whenever he can, invited other local authority and business leaders to follow suit and up to 20 have pledged to take part or are encouraging staff to do the same, where possible.

The list includes Charles Finny, chief executive of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, David Rolfe, acting chief executive of Porirua City Council and Karen Sewell, chief executive of the Ministry of Education.

And it's not just business chiefs who are marking the day. Metlink public transport operators are getting on board too.

Four bus operators are working together to offer children free travel when they accompany a fare paying adult.

This offer applies to all Go Wellington (formerly Stagecoach Wellington), Cityline Hutt Valley, Mana Coach Services and Newlands Coach Services on Saturday 22 September only.

In addition harbour ferry operator East by West Ferries is going to allow children to go free if accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

And Tranz Metro is offering a special deal too. Its $20 Group Rover ticket normally allows up to four people to travel as a group anywhere between Paraparaumu, Upper Hutt, Johnsonville and Wellington.

As part of World Carfree Day, up to six people will be able to travel on this ticket. That effectively means two people can travel for free - but only for the day.

Greater Wellington, which has adopted its own travel plan programme (a scheme to encourage staff to take more environmentally friendly ways to get to work), is working with staff at other organisations to help them do the same.

The United Nations has designated 22 September as World Carfree Day to encourage people to leave their vehicle at home and use healthier more environmentally-friendly ways of getting around.

The event is expected to be marked by an estimated 100 million people across the world and supported by 1500 city leaders around the world - including those in Wellington.

David Benham said: "Marking World Carfree Day in this way is a great idea. It makes us think about the effect our cars have on the environment and encourages us to look at alternatives.

"Travelling from my home in Eastbourne to central Wellington by car can also be a hassle when the traffic is heavy. So taking the ferry is a good option for me. I'm looking forward to my early-morning crossing and I'm delighted others are to leave their cars at home too.

"The more people who opt for public transport, or who take the bike or walk, even for just a day every now and again, will really make a difference to the environment."

ENDS

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